Dadan, Weeping Tears of Joy: You Little Brats Are Alive-Thank Goodness

In the Fleet Admiral's office, two Old smoker were staring at each other expressionlessly.

After a moment, Sakazuki said, "You said you just captured a few marines, including a Commodore?"

"Right."

Sakazuki paused for a moment upon hearing this, then said, "So, you went to Sabaody Archipelago and not only failed to capture the Straw Hat Crew, you ended up capturing your own people?"

Isn't this kid a bit too outrageous?

Even a troublemaker shouldn't be this troublesome.

"They don't deserve to wear these clothes!" Smoker said bluntly.

Smoker trembled with rage at the thought of what that bastard had told him.

Oppressing civilians, abusing power, colluding with pirates... does someone like that deserve to be a Marine?

Sakazuki, who had taken in Smoker's reaction, frowned slightly and then said, "Tell me, what exactly happened?"

He only knew that Smoker had brought back a few Marines, but he didn't know what had happened.

"This Commodore framed a little girl in front of me, accusing her of being a pirate spy and intending to make her responsible for the failed attempt to capture the Straw Hat Crew," Smoker said, staring into Sakazuki's eyes. "And this... is just one of many things he's done."

Sakazuki paused for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "What else did he do?"

"He used his authority Marine Rear Admiral to bully civilians, and at the same time colluded with a pirate crew, extracting a considerable amount of benefits from them," Smoker said. "Of course, these benefits were obtained at the cost of civilian lives."

Upon hearing this, Sakazuki's fingers, which were lightly tapping the table, immediately stopped, and his expression darkened.

How could such a scoundrel appear in his team?

Damn it!

Then, Sakazuki said coldly, "Now that the investigation is complete, let's get rid of them."

He will not tolerate such scum!

Smoker paused for a moment, then said, "Just kill them?"

"Otherwise?" Sakazuki retorted. "You don't necessarily intend to send them to prison, do you?"

"They don't even deserve it?"

As a tough soldier, he couldn't tolerate such injustice.

So... these guys have to die!

Smoker fell silent upon hearing this; how could their Fleet Admiral be even more radical than him?

But since they'd already said that, he couldn't say anything more. After all... he really did want to kill these guys himself.

Thinking this through, Smoker nodded and said, "Okay, I understand. I'll take care of them in a bit."

Since the Marshal has spoken, he naturally won't hold back!

Sakazuki nodded, then pushed a document in front of Smoker, saying, "Take a look at this document; it's about the Straw Hat Pirates."

"This is what Sentomaru reported not long ago."

Upon hearing that the information belonged to the Straw Hat Pirates, Smoker stepped forward and picked it up.

After carefully reviewing the contents, Smoker frowned and said, "Two new members?"

"A Ghost- Devil Fruit User and a Wood-Wood Devil Fruit User?"

"That's right, two new members."

With a cigarette dangling from his lips, Sakazuki calmly looked at Smoker and said, "Do you think this Wood-Wood Devil Fruit User... could possibly be that Blood-Eyed Ninja?"

"How is this possible?"

Smoker shook his head and said, "This man was killed two years ago when he caused havoc in Mary Geoise. How could it be him?"

That was confirmed by the World Government itself, how could it be that person?

Stop joking, okay?!

"What if I told you that the World Government didn't obtain the Blood-Eyed Ninja's body two years ago?" Sakazuki said.

Smoker:???

Smoker looked at Sakazuki with a face full of suspicion and uncertainty, hesitated for a moment before saying, "No body?"

"Yes," Sakazuki nodded and said, "Borsalino once said that after the Blood-Eyed Ninja died, his body was swallowed by Sea Kings."

"So what does that prove?" Smoker countered. "Does it mean that because the body wasn't taken away, we can't confirm whether he's really dead?"

That's a bit of a stretch.

"Not exactly."

Sakazuki shook his head and said, "Borsalino said he was indeed dead."

Smoker:...

Why bring this up when it's already been confirmed?

Perhaps sensing Smoker's confusion, Sakazuki said calmly, "I just feel like something's not right."

But if you insist on providing evidence, he doesn't have any.

After all... this was just a response from his intuition.

Smoker thought for a moment, then said, "Why don't we just send someone to investigate this Wood-Wood Devil Fruit User?"

"I've already sent someone to do it."

Just then, there was a knock on the Great Gate, accompanied by a man's voice.

"Marshal, the intelligence you asked me to investigate has been completed."

"Come in."

Upon hearing this, the man immediately pushed open the door and came in.

However, he paused for a moment when he saw Smoker, and then greeted Smoker respectfully.

After finishing this task, he took the documents and approached Sakazuki.

After Sakazuki picked up the documents and started looking at them, the man said, "This person started operating on the high seas about six months ago."

"During that time, they wiped out three pirate crews with bounties exceeding 100 million, demonstrating their formidable strength."

"We initially thought this person was a bounty hunter and even tried to recruit him, but we gave up because we couldn't find him."

"As a result... six months later, the other party became a member of the Straw Hat Pirates."

By the end, the man's expression had become very complicated.

Who would have thought that someone who chased and killed pirates everywhere would become a pirate himself?

"Do you know the name?" Smoker asked.

"I don't know." The man shook his head and said, "We only know that the other party has the Wood-Wood Devil Fruit User and comes from the West Blue, nothing else."

Smoker paused for a moment after hearing this, then looked up at Sakazuki and said, "It shouldn't be that person."

"After all, that guy is Ninja. Even without eating Devil Fruit, he possesses immense power, so there's absolutely no need for him to develop a weakness like fearing the sea."

The fighting prowess this person displayed during the Marineford War was truly terrifying. Would someone like that really eat a Devil Fruit that only increases their weaknesses?

Moreover, the boost this Devil Fruit could provide didn't seem as high as he'd imagined, so he felt it probably wasn't that person.

This time, Sakazuki didn't say anything, but nodded and accepted Smoker's proposal.

After seeing this information, Sakazuki also realized he was overthinking things.

Then, Sakazuki said, "Is the other Ghost Princess, Perona, one of Moria's people?"

"Yes."

The man nodded and said, "This is the girl who was always by the side of the former Shichibukai, Gecko Moria."

"Moria's men?"

Smoker paused for a moment, then asked in confusion, "Why would Moria's subordinates be hanging out with the Straw Hat Crew?"

"Shouldn't they be enemies?"

If he remembers correctly, Gecko Moria was defeated by the Straw Hat.

How did these two groups of people come together under these circumstances?

"No, they have no grudge." Sakazuki shook his head and said, "Two years ago in the Sabaody Archipelago, Moria helped the Straw Hat Crew."

"This is also one of the main reasons why I failed to catch them."

Sakazuki felt extremely annoyed when he thought about what that bastard Moria had done.

If it weren't for his meddling, I would have captured the Straw Hat Crew long ago!

"I see..." Smoker said, frowning. "That explains why this girl is with the Straw Hat Crew."

"This girl might be heading to the New World to find Gecko Moria," the man said.

Upon hearing the man's words, Smoker recalled the news he had seen earlier, then nodded and said, "That's possible."

So, that girl isn't Straw Hat Crew?

Is the only new member to join the Straw Hat Crew the one with the Wood-Wood Devil Fruit User?

"It's also possible that she joined the Straw Hat Pirates," Sakazuki said calmly.

Who knows if that woman was entrusted to the Straw Hat Crew by Moria?

Smoker, understanding Sakazuki's meaning, thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "That is indeed possible."

If Moria conveyed some kind of message to this woman or the Straw Hat Crew before he died, this woman might indeed join the Straw Hat Crew.

Then, Smoker looked up at Sakazuki and said, "Leave her to me too."

"Also?"

Sakazuki asked, "What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to the New World to hunt down the Straw Hat Crew," Smoker said seriously. "That's why I came here to find you."

The man standing nearby twitched his eyebrows upon hearing this. Was this guy really speaking so rudely to the Marshal?

Should he not stay here any longer...?

Thinking of this, the man looked up at Sakazuki.

After seeing the other person nod slightly at him, he turned and left without hesitation, thoughtfully closing the Great Gate behind him.

After the other person left, Sakazuki continued, "You should know your place, Smoker."

He wasn't angry at Smoker's attitude; after all, that was just his personality, and he was used to it.

But he hoped the other party would understand what the words "Admiral Candidate" meant.

"Of course I know," Smoker nodded. "But that's precisely why I should go to the New World, isn't it?"

"Defeat the pirates and demonstrate the Navy's might—isn't that exactly what you, Marshal, want to see?"

Of course, if Marshal Sakazuki disagrees...

Ha, even if I disagree, he'll still go.

Sakazuki paused for a moment upon hearing this, then, as if understanding something, said, "You want to be like Garp."

Smoker didn't refute this, but calmly looked at Sakazuki, waiting for his reply.

Sakazuki, who had been staring at Smoker for a while, nodded, clearly understanding Smoker's thoughts.

Even if he disagrees, there's no way he can stop the other party.

As for punishment?

Don't be ridiculous. It's not easy to find someone with the potential to succeed Borsalino; how could he possibly punish him?

However... dealing with such a troublemaker is really exhausting.

Thinking of this, Sakazuki sighed silently.

Then, Sakazuki said, "Then hand over what you're doing and go to the G5 Branch to become the base leader."

Smoker immediately objected; wouldn't being the base commander mean he'd be confined to the Marine Branch?

Sakazuki, having discerned Smoker's thoughts, said calmly, "Becoming the base chief of the G5 Branch won't reduce your freedom."

You'll see when you get there.

Seeing that Smoker wanted to say something more, Sakazuki frowned and said, "That's an order!"

Smoker paused for a moment after hearing this, then said, "Yes, I understand."

He then turned and left without hesitation, clearly intending to deal with the situation as quickly as possible.

After watching the other person leave, Sakazuki rubbed his temples and said, "That troublemaker..."

I didn't even close the door behind me when I left. Honestly.

A moment later, an old man with a full head of white hair appeared outside the door, chuckling and peeking inside at Sakazuki.

"Um?"

Sakazuki glanced at Sengoku, who was grinning mischievously, and was speechless.

What's this guy doing here?

"Hehe, Marshal isn't easy, is it?" Sengoku chuckled.

He knew all too well how troublesome it was to have troublesome subordinates.

Sakazuki's eyelids twitched upon hearing this, then he said expressionlessly, "Retirees shouldn't be loitering around here!"

You're deliberately trying to annoy him, aren't you!

"Hmph, you think I care?"

Sengoku scoffed and said, "If I hadn't been passing by while looking for Little Tsuru, I wouldn't have bothered to come see you."

This playful side of the old man completely silenced Sakazuki.

How come I never knew this Marshal had this side to him?

After a moment of silence, Sakazuki lowered his head to work on the files, ignoring the old rascal.

"Tsk, boring."

Sengoku pursed his lips, then gave up teasing Sakazuki and instead helped Sakazuki close the Great Gate.

Before leaving, Sengoku said, "Good luck, Sakazuki, the tough times are yet to come."

Sakazuki:???

"You..."

"Bump!"

Looking at the tightly closed Great Gate, Sakazuki's words caught in his throat.

Damn it, I'm so angry!

Sengoku, standing outside the door, lost his smile, and his expression gradually became complicated.

What he said wasn't just empty talk.

The Navy's future will likely be even more difficult than before.

However, if they can pull through... the future of the Navy might be even brighter!

After letting out a silent sigh, Sengoku composed himself and reverted to his usual playful, childlike demeanor.

He then turned and walked toward the office in the distance.

As he pushed open the Great Gate, Sengoku said, "Little Tsuru, I'm here again."

"Roll!"

"Hehe, don't be angry~"

Sengoku wasn't angry at being scolded. Instead, he walked into Tsuru's office with a smile and sat down in the seat next to him quite naturally.

Tsuru was somewhat helpless at the sight; why did this bastard always like to come here?

Thinking of this, Tsuru laughed and scolded, "Why aren't you enjoying your retirement? Why are you always running around here?"

"I've got nothing better to do," Sengoku said with a hint of helplessness.

"If you really have nothing better to do, go out and catch pirates," Tsuru said irritably.

"That won't do."

Sengoku shook his head and said, "If you're going to retire, you should act like one. What kind of business is it to go out and catch pirates?"

This is not something a retired old man should do.

Tsuru rolled his eyes at him and said, "So that's why you keep coming here, is that it?"

"That Garp went out without me, who else can I turn to if not you?" Sengoku said helplessly.

There are only a handful of people he can really connect with, so there's nothing he can do about it.

Upon hearing this, Tsuru chuckled and put down his pen, saying, "Who told you to always steal his senbei?"

"Hey, I don't like hearing that," Sengoku said, pursing his lips. "Didn't he steal enough of my tea leaves?"

"That bastard always takes something with him whenever he comes to my office."

He gets angry whenever Garp.

Seeing Sengoku's somewhat indignant expression, Tsuru chuckled and said, "You two really are the same kind of people, both acting like old children."

"So what?"

Sengoku muttered, "They're all retired now, can't they relax a little?"

If he still needs to live a life of constant tension... then what's the point of his retirement?

"That's true."

Tsuru nodded, then said, "So, what brings you here this time?"

"Of course I'm here to have tea with you." Sengoku said, taking out a cup of tea. "This is the latest variety that even that Garp hasn't tried."

After saying that, Sengoku paused for a moment, then continued, "Oh, by the way, what did that bastard Garp go about?"

Although he said he was very unhappy with Garp, Sengoku actually hoped that the old bastard could sit down with him, have some tea, and eat some senbei.

"Him...?"

Tsuru paused slightly in his hand holding the file, then said casually, "They should have returned to the East Blue by now."

"Back to the East Blue?"

The Sengoku asked in confusion, "Why are we back in the East Blue again?"

"Didn't we just go there once half a year ago?"

"This time is different," Tsuru said softly.

"How are they different?"

This time, Tsuru didn't say anything, but instead took out a piece of intelligence and pushed it in front of Sengoku.

Sengoku glanced at Tsuru with a puzzled look, then, at her prompting, picked up the intelligence report on the table and glanced at it.

"Um?"

Upon seeing the contents of the intelligence report, Sengoku immediately frowned.

"The Spade Pirates have appeared in the East Blue...?"

Spades... Isn't that Fire Fist Ace's pirate crew?!

Hiss... He understands!

After putting down the intelligence report, Sengoku looked up and said, "So, Garp is...?"

"Um."

Tsuru nodded, then continued, "I'm the only one who has this copy of the intelligence."

Sengoku paused for a moment upon hearing this, then picked up the intelligence report from the table and put it in Meimei's mouth, gesturing for her to eat it.

Meimei didn't refuse and habitually put the information in her mouth and started eating it.

And the fact that Tsuru did not stop it can be seen as preempting Sengoku's actions.

After doing this, Sengoku's expression became somewhat complicated.

Looking after his grandson...

If Rosinate were still alive, his grandson would be about the same age as that kid Ace by now.

Thinking of this, Sengoku sighed silently.

It was at this moment that the image of the little devil whom Rosinate had saved with his life surfaced in Sengoku's mind.

'Luo...'

I wonder how that kid is doing now.

Meanwhile, on the other side...

At this moment, a pirate ship is anchored on the beach outside Windmill Village.

This is it.

Looking at the very familiar village in front of him, Ace's eyes became a little moist.

Sabo, standing to the side, also gradually had tears welling up in his eyes.

After all these years, he has finally returned here...

Is that woman who treated them like sons doing well now?

Looking at the two people standing at the bow of the ship, a look of emotion appeared on Marco's face.

Then he said, "Ace, leave the supplies to us. You guys go do what you want to do."

"Profound!"

Ace nodded upon hearing Marco's words, then smiled and said to Sabo beside him, "Let's go, Sabo."

It's time to go back and visit Dadan.

"Um."

Sabo nodded to Ace, then turned and ran with him towards the distant mountains, intending to meet Dadan on the mountain first.

Marco, watching the group leave, remarked with some emotion, "Who would have thought that the Revolutionary Army's second-in-command would be Ace's brother?"

Recalling the previous scene, Marco's face was filled with emotion.

Just a month ago, they happened to encounter this Revolutionary Army's second-in-command named Sabo, and a conflict ensued over some matters.

He had initially thought a full-blown war was about to break out, but Ace immediately recognized the man named Sabo, and so... the two sides made peace.

Thinking about this, Marco sighed to himself, "Fate is truly a mysterious thing."

Just then, a pirate came running over in a panic, saying, "Vice-Captain Marco, something terrible has happened!"

"What's wrong? Why are you in such a panic?" Marco frowned. "Tell me slowly."

Upon hearing this, the pirate took a deep breath and then said, "We've spotted a warship."

"Warship?"

Marco frowned upon hearing this and said, "Could it be that the navy discovered our trip to the East Blue?"

"That should be the case," Vista nodded and said.

Otherwise, it wouldn't make sense why a warship would appear there.

Marco thought for a moment, then said, "Can you confirm who's leading this?"

"I don't know, but there's a dog's head on the front of the warship."

Marco:...

Upon hearing that there was a dog's head on the warship, Marco was immediately rendered speechless.

As the former second-in-command of the Whitebeard Pirates, he was very clear about what this warship meant.

"Should we do something?" the pirate asked.

If it were a matter of taking action, he would go and take down that warship with his brothers right now!

"There's no need for that," Marco shook his head and said, "As long as they don't attack us first, we can just pretend we didn't see anything."

That warship was Ace's personal vessel, so... there's a high chance they won't attack them.

"Yes, I understand!"

Marco nodded in agreement, then looked at his brothers and said, "Go to the village to buy some supplies, then go to the tavern and Ace and the others."

"But remember this: no one is allowed to harass the villagers, understand?"

"Clear!"

The pirates nodded upon receiving the order, then quickly ran towards the distant village.

The villagers, on the other hand, looked at the pirates with curiosity, showing absolutely no fear of them.

It's as if... they don't care about these pirates at all.

Vista, observing the reactions of everyone present, remarked with emotion, "No wonder it's the hometown of Navy Hero..."

"No pirates would dare to cause trouble here," Marco said with a smile.

The title of Navy Hero speaks for itself; who would dare to provoke it?

"That's true."

Vista nodded, then turned his gaze to the direction the pirate had pointed, muttering, "I wonder if there are any skilled swordsmen on that ship."

For some reason, he always had a feeling that there was a powerful guy there, but he didn't know if it was just his imagination.

"What's wrong, itching to get your hands dirty?" Marco chuckled.

"No, just out of curiosity."

"There's no need to attack them out of curiosity," Marco said. "Once we get back to the New World, there will be plenty of opponents for you to fight."

Vista paused for a moment after hearing this, then nodded and said, "That's true."

They're here to visit relatives with Ace, so it's best to avoid trouble.

With that thought in mind, Vista removed his hand from the hilt of the knife.

Marco smiled at the sight, then turned his gaze to the direction where the warships were hidden, muttering to himself, 'Hopefully they won't come looking for trouble.'

If possible, he still hoped that Ace's visit to his family would go smoothly.

And in the direction he was gazing, there was someone else silently watching as well.

"Rear Admiral Bogart, we..."

Upon hearing this, Bogart glanced at the marine with a puzzled expression. Didn't he know the relationship between that pirate crew and Garp?

Is this kid a newbie?

After a moment of silence, Bogart said, "Just pretend you didn't see it."

"We'll discuss everything once Garp returns."

"Yes."

"Hmph, what brings you here again?" Dadan said to Garp with displeasure.

She didn't want to give this bastard, who just watched from the sidelines during the Marineford War without lifting a finger to help, the slightest bit of kindness.

"Um?"

Seeing that Dadan didn't give him a kind look, Garp was stunned for a moment, then as if he remembered something, a look of helplessness appeared in his eyes.

Then he said, "Can't I even come to see you?"

"What's so interesting about me?"

Garp paused for a moment upon hearing this, then said, "I know you're unhappy, but I have my reasons."

These words were like a match, igniting Dadan's anger.

"What hardship could be more important than family?" Dadan grabbed Garp by the collar and said angrily, "Do you know that Ace and Luffy almost died!"

She only raised these three little ones in her entire life!

As a result, one died young, and the other two almost died in front of that bastard Garp...

How could she not be furious?!

This time, Garp didn't say anything, but responded with silence.

But it was precisely this attitude that made Dadan even angrier.

Finally, she punched Garp directly in the face, knocking him to the ground.

After doing this, Dadan ignored the old bastard and went to sit down on her own.

Garp didn't seem to care, wiped his face, and stood up again.

"Why aren't you leaving yet?" Dadan said, "There's no food for you here, you..."

Before she could finish speaking, she heard a voice from outside that she knew all too well.

"Dadan!"

We've come to see you!

"Huh?"

Dadan was stunned for a moment upon hearing Ace's words, then said in disbelief, "Is that Ace's voice?"

"That's right, it's his voice, boss!"

The underlings looked excited and were clearly pleasantly surprised.

"It really is him..." Dadan murmured.

Two years later... has this bastard finally decided to come back to see her?

Then, Dadan looked at Garp and said, "So, your purpose in coming here is also to see your grandson?"

This time, Garp didn't refute it, which can be considered as a presupposition.

Seeing this, Dadan nodded and didn't say anything more about telling Garp to get lost right now.

Then, she got up and went to the mirror to fix her hair, which had become a little messy because of her anger.

After finishing this task, Dadan walked outside with a smile on her face.

"Ace..."

"Huh?"

Dadan was stunned again when she saw the figure standing next to Ace.

"He... he is..."

"Dadan, it's me, Sabo," Sabo said softly.

"It really really is you..."

Upon receiving an affirmative answer, Dadan's pupils immediately shrank to their maximum size.

Then she said, "Didn't you already... more than ten years ago?"

"Yes, I almost died back then, but I managed to survive," Sabo said softly.

"Then why haven't you contacted us all these years?"

"Because I lost my memory due to a serious injury I sustained back then," Sabo said helplessly, "That's why I haven't come back to look for you."

"So how did you recover?"

"Isn't this back to Ace?" Sabo said. "I met Ace a month ago, and with his help, I regained my memories."

"If that weren't the case... I Truth that I have two brothers."

As he said this, a look of relief appeared on Sabo's face, clearly relieved that he could recall those memories.

"So that's how it is..."

Dadan nodded, then asked, "What about Luffy?"

"Why didn't that brat come back with you?"

At this point, Dadan's expression suddenly changed.

Could it be that he...?

"Don't worry, he's perfectly fine," Ace said. "You'll probably see him in the newspapers soon."

Sabo said that Nico Robin will reunite with Luffy and the Luffy in two years, so... it won't be long before they're active on the seas again!

"It's good that you're alive... it's good that you're alive..." Dadan said with a sigh of relief.

Then, Dadan said, "Let's go, I'll cook you a good meal, you've all gotten so thin from hunger."

"I wonder if you two brats have been eating properly all these years."

"Honestly, she's such a grown woman, why do I still have to worry about her? I..."

Hearing Dadan's words, which sounded like those of a loving mother, Ace and Sabo were silent for a moment, then said with tears in their eyes, "Dadan."

"Thank you..."

Thank you for loving us like a mother has always.

Upon hearing their words, Dadan's body trembled slightly, and then her suppressed emotions completely broke free.

Watching the two figures gradually blur, Dadan said in a trembling voice, "It's so good that you little bastards are still alive!!!"

This woman, who had played the role of a mother her entire life, finally couldn't hold back anymore and began to wail.

The other underlings inside weren't much better off; they were all secretly wiping away tears.

Then, one of them looked at Garp, who was secretly wiping his eyes, and said, "Garp, aren't you... going out to take a look?"

Garp paused for a moment upon hearing this, then shook his head and said, "No, let's give them some time first."